Economic Contribution of Headwater Wetlands

Abstract

The environmental role of headwater wetlands is increasingly influenced by human interventions in many parts of the developing world. The way in which wetlands and their catchments are managed is affected by the perception of these areas by people and by their abilities to obtain benefits from them using varying technologies in response to changing opportunities. Wetland use in western Ethiopia appears to have a long history although the evidence for this is fragmentary. During the 20^th century wetland cultivation has increased to different degrees in different parts of the region. Agricultural development has been most intense in the north and east of the study area. Agricultural development of wetlands has been stimulated through the 20^th century by technological innovations, demographic change, commercialisation and government policies. Other aspects of government policy have also affected wetlands. The extension policy since the mid 1980s has stressed the need for improving food security. In the wet south-west highlands this has focused upon the draining of wetlands. Today wetlands are a significant part of the resource base in south-west Ethiopia and are used by virtually every household in some way. A recent assessment of the role of wetlands throughout much of the study area (ref) has shown that wetlands play a critical role in food security. Research findings suggest that degradation of wetlands is not only, or necessarily, linked to increasing intensity of use. Other factors such as catchment land use, wetland soil depth, and local geomorphological features strongly influence the eco-hydrological characteristics of each wetland, and hence their capacity to support different forms of wetland use. Therefore to get sound environmental management need to recognise the economic role which wetlands play in these headwaters and how they interact with the catchments and downstream.